A Lot Has Happened

So I am able to post new articles via email, but I can't access my page for some strange reason. That means that I can tell you what is going on, but I can't read comments. Booo...

 

But you can send me emails. And please keep leaving comments because I am sure I will sort out the problem one of these days.

 

I got into Addis Ababa about 12 hours behind schedule because of a 45 minute for-no-reason delay in Charlotte. I ended up being rerouted to Paris instead of Amsterdam. There I had a 12 hour layover. Sleeping on the floor of a European airport was sort of nostalgic. I didn't leave the airport because I don't know Paris at all, and Euros are worth about a million dollars these days. Or close. I made sure that I bugged every agent I met to please-call-the-ground-crew-about-my-bag and waited until I got the "Yes, Mr. Morehouse, it did arrive from Charlotte, or Detroit, or Paris..." And so on. So I got here in one piece, and with my bag waiting for me. Hooray!

 

Addis Ababa is home to several million people. It is big, dirty, and full of people. It also sits at about 7800 feet above sea level. So I am out of breath a lot as I get used to the altitude. But its also a lot of fun. I also get that familar burn in the back of the throat familar to anyone who has lived near Los Angeles in August. There is a lot of smog.

 

When we first got here we went through a lot of orientation type meetings to get the lay of the land. After these we were pretty much turned loose to figure out the ropes for ourselves. Most of the city gets around by walking or taking mini-busses around. They call these taxis. To get to the College and back takes about 20 minutes and costs around 14 cents. The exchange rate is about 10 to 1. Take that Euro! A meal at a good sit down resturant is about $3.50.

 

Addis is pretty safe for a big city. Unless someone is an out-and-out con-artist people are honest and helpful. Walking isn't dangerous, even at night, you just have to watch where you are going, as there are open manholes and gutters all over the place that would probably kill you to fall into.

 

Today was the first day of class and my first day completely on my own. Class went well. I have a mix of degree and diploma students. I don't understand the difference. Some are getting a degree in Theology, some are getting a diploma. Who knows? I have around 13 students. They seem to speak good English, and can understand me (as far as I know) pretty well. I am going to have a lot of fun.

 

I am a little bit jet lagged. As a result the night hours are kind of miserable. My mind gets filled with bad memories, which come out of nowhere. That can be prayed for. Also, I am a bit lonely. Otherwise I am having a really good time, enjoying the company I have, and looking forward to another 4 weeks in Ethiopia.

 

I have posted some GPS spots, with more to follow.

 

More to follow.